Supreme Commander 2 Guide: Illuminate Experimentals

The Illuminate's land army can be weak compared to the UEF, but they make up for it was their experimental units. Many of the most powerful experimental units in the entire game belong to the Illuminate. This guide will help you wreak havoc with them.

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Illuminate Power

The Illuminate's ground forces tend to be a bit weak in the late game, but they make up for it with some very impressive experimental units. The Illuminate's experimental units are in some ways comparable to counter-parts from the UEF and Cybran but also superior in certain ways. This guide will help you extract the most from your investment into the Illuminate's experimental units.

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Airnomo

HP: 13000

Cost: 620 Mass/2815 Energy

Anti-Air Damage: 500+ DPS

Laser Damage: 400+ DPS

Built at the Experimental Gantry

The only anti-air experimental in the game, the Airnomo reinforces the power of the Illuminate air force with an experimental unit capable of wiping out enemy gunships, bombers, and fighters. It is hugely effective and the only land unit which is capable of legitimately challenging a hoard of enemy aircraft. It does require a little protection, however, because its hitpoints are low for an experimental.

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Darkenoid

HP: 20000

Cost: 1500 Mass/5000 Energy

Quantum Beam DPS: 375

Laser DPS: 150

Artillery Bomb DPS: 1000+

Built at Experimental Gantry

A hugely damaging air experimental, the Darkenoid can quickly level an enemy base. The main problem with the Darkenoid is getting to the base in the first place. It isn't a fast unit, and it has no real defense against air units. Left unguarded, a small group of enemy fighters can simply pick it apart. The bigger problem, however, is the effectiveness of gunships. For the cost of a Darkenoid you can purchase 20 gunships, and to the gunships will probably be more deadly.

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Loyalty Gun

HP: 18500

Cost: 1400 Mass/4810 Energy

Built by ACU or Engineer

One of the best defenses in the game, the Loyalty Gun can convert enemy units to your cause. It has a long range and is extremely effective against slower units. It is also very good at breaking stalemates in close quarters maps. The Loyalty Gun can cause the enemy defenses to pick themselves apart as you convert shields and turrets to your cause one by one.

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Pulinsmash

HP: 26500

Cost: 750 Mass/2500 Energy

Built by Experimental Gantry

This is basically a version of the Magnetron which isn't quite as powerful but can move. When put under heavy guard by a Illuminate land army it is effective. It's disadvantage is that, unlike the Magnetron, it can only pull in one unit at a time. It also can't pull in ACUs or other experimental units. It is still useful in spite of this, but not as great as it could have been.

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Space Temple

HP: 18000

Cost: 1460 Mass/5175 Energy

Built by ACU or Engineer

A favorite Illuminate experimental and one of the best experimental units in the game overall, the Space Temple is capable of transporting units across the map through the use of a portal. The portal is the best surprise attack weapon in the game because, unlike the Noah Unit Cannon, it moves units in a large group making them harder to pick off one by one. The Space Temple is a must-have experimental for any Illuminate ground army.

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Universal Colossus

HP: 50000

Cost: 1375 Mass/5250 Energy

Eye Laser DPS: 500

Death Weapon DPS: Unknown, 10000 per shot

Death Claw Damage: Unknown

Built by Experimental Gantry

What an insane unit. The Universal Colossus has more HP than any other unit in the game by 12000. It is armed with multiple weapons which cause near instant death. Its eye laser is extremely powerful and count also outrange most units in the game. That's all great, but what is even more amazing is the fact that the Universal Colossus is in fact not the most expensive experimental around. It is really quite hard to argue against building these if you've progressed to the late game because they are simply the most powerful experimental in the entire game.

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Urchinow Assault Block

HP: 16000

Cost: 490 Mass/2100 Energy

Pulse Laser DPS: 500+

Artillery DPS: 80

Another great experimental unit, the Urchinow is basically a big, heavy tank. Like the Universal Colossus it is really quite amazing what you get in return for what you spend. This unit costs not even 500 mass, but it is capable of taking down most enemy experimental units and it can hover. It has excellent range, enough to outrange most defenses in the game, and does a lot of damage. Illuminate players going the land route should always add a few Urchinows to their forces.

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Wilfindja Sea Hunter

HP: 8000

Cost: 510 Mass/2625 Energy

The Wilfindja is a strange unit for an experimental because it really does not handle direct conflict well. It only has 8000HP, yet isn't that inexpensive. It is a flying unit, but has no defense against enemy fighters. The Wilfindja has no direct weapons, either, but instead uses attack pods. These pods can attack opponents a fair distance away from the Wilfindja. The problem, however, is that they're not very smart. As a result the Wilfindja is difficult to use and you're usually better of building Urchinows.